Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



G SGHARFFE BREBGH LOADING GUN.

No. 16,070. Patented Nov.,11, 1856.

1K l E *raras N ITE im cUsTAv scHARrrE, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADNG FIRE-ARMS.

Tov a/ZZ whom ibm/ay concern.'

'Be it known that I, GUsrAv SCHRFFE, of New York,V in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Breech-Loading Guns 5 and I do hereby declare that the following is afull and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure I represents a longitudinal section ofthe gun. Fig. II is a section through the breech. Fig. III is a view of the cam attached to the breech and acting upon the hammer. Fig. IV is a section of the gun-barrel withthe breech-piece screwed into the inside of the same, and Fig.. V is an end view of the hammer-guides.

The nature of my invention consists in the manner and in the construction of the vlock acted upon by the breech, so that by the action of opening the same the hammer of the lock will be-cocked.

A is the wooden butt-end of the gun.

B is the barrel.

C is the lock-frame, attachedfthrough the bolts a a' to the wooden butt-end, and through the hook b a d bolt d to the barrel B.

D is an ope` ing in the upper side'of the barrel, near the end, to admit the cartridge into 'the barrel. E is the breech-cap, screwed on the outside of the barrel, as shown in Fig. I, and screwed into the inside ef the barrel., asshownin Fig. IV, with an opening, D', corresponding with the opening D in the gun-barrel. The breechcf-.pEgvheny turned partly round,will cover up le opening D perfectly tight.

N is the nipple to receive the percussioncaps, screwed into the end ofthe cap E, and communicating with the inside of the gunbarrel B through the vent-hole n.

F is a handle fastened to the end Aof the cap Eto turn Vthe same by, and provided with a projection, G, or cam acting upon the harniuer, as will be hereinafter described.

II is "the hammer', consisting simply of a rod guided in the bearings and K', attached to the frame C.

j' is a collar fast on the hammer II, between which and the bearing. K aspiral spring, S, is situated, soas to act upon the hammer to push the same against the\percussioncap on the nipple Nwhen relievedtrom the action of the lever L. On the forwardend of the hammer H is a projection, I), attached, against which the cam G acts. j

L is a lever attached to the'spr'fiflig m, by the action of which said lever is 'always pressed against the under side of the hammer H, holding the same locked when required.

. T is the trigger, attached to the lever L to pull said lever away from the hammer II.

For needle-gunsthe dartng needle will be fastened into the end of the hammer II, and the nipple N in that ease dispensed with, the cap and bottom ofl the barrel being provided with a suitable hole to allow the needle to pass through.

The operation of the gun is as follows: Vhen the gun requires to be loaded, the handle F, and consequently with the-same, the breech-cap E is turned round, so that the openings D and D correspond, (as represented inthe drawings,) through which opening the cartridge is introduced into the barrel B. By the turning round of the handle the cam or projection G acts upon the projection P, fast on the end of the hammer H, and pushes thereby said hammer, backward until the lever L has come intothe notch o onthe under side of the hammer, and holds thereby the same in that position. The lever F is now turned down again, so as to close up the opening D. A percussion-cap is placed upon the nipple N, when the gun will be ready to dis charge. A slight pressure .on the trigger 'I bringsthe lever L out of the notch o, relieving thereby the hammer H, when the spring S acts upon the same so as to discharge the gun.

To facilitate the taking out of the hammer the capsp, Fig. V,.are made so as to turn upon one bolt, the hole for the second bolt being slotted out, by which arrangement by loosening this one bolt in each cap the same can be turned on one side and the hammer taken out.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to Asecure/by Letters Patent, is

l. The manner of cooking the hammer by the opening of the breech, substantially asdescribed.

2. The arrangement and construction of the hammer, operated in the manner specified.

3. Screwing the breech-cap E either upon 'screwing up of said breechfcap thevhole in the orinto the gun-barrel, said breech-cap being gun-barrel is closed up again, substantially as provided with -ahoe corresponding vWith a described. hole in the gun-barrel, by the unscrewing of GUSTAV SCHARFFE.

which said breech-cap the hammer is cocked Witnesses: and both holes are brought above each other, HENRY-E. ROEDER, so as to admit thecartridge, While bythe M. WEINKE.- 

